Beaded Moosehide:jackets,gloves and mitts

[bb07]

I would like to share some pictures of beautiful handmade clothing made by an elderly Dene woman from northern Saskatchewan.
Everything is made from moose hide,
while the lighter colored hide used is caribou,most noticeably the bottom half of the jackets.The fur is beaver.
The hide has been tanned the traditional native way,with the previous owner of the hide having been already eaten The first three items are mine.
Gloves
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx90/camokodiak/moosehide/IMG_0448.jpg
Mitts
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx90/camokodiak/moosehide/IMG_0446.jpg
Moose hide/caribou jacket
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx90/camokodiak/moosehide/IMG_0451.jpg
Belonging to my wife
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx90/camokodiak/moosehide/IMG_0458.jpg
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx90/camokodiak/moosehide/IMG_0462.jpg
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx90/camokodiak/moosehide/IMG_0463.jpg
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx90/camokodiak/moosehide/IMG_0461.jpg
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx90/camokodiak/moosehide/IMG_0459.jpg
Traditional hide tanning, sewing and beadwork is disappearing here as the elders pass away.The young people aren't too interested in carrying on the traditions of the past.It's only a matter of time before the old ways are gone forever.
I'm frowned upon by her for not wearing mine,but prefer to preserve them.My wife does wear hers though,except for the jacket.
Neither of us can fit our jackets any more,as they were made for us in the 80's,and it would seem that we've both become somewhat 'larger'.
The elderly Dene woman who made all this is now in her 90's and still does this kind of work.Hopefully she'll be able to continue doing what makes her happy for a very long time to come.
We both know her very well,as she is my wife's mother.

 

[Gill]

Fantastic work my friend thanks for sharing.

 

[Matt.S]

That's some beautiful folkart. Does your wife not learn it from her mother?

 

[bb07]

That's some beautiful folkart. Does your wife not learn it from her mother?

Yes,she does know how to do it,but she's not young either.

 

[Toddy]

Beautiful work, , and to make it all from beast to clothing is just all the more admirable.

Maybe see if you can collect what is called Living Witness, now, while she is still here. Photographs, memories, patterns, record her discussing her work and if you can record her actually making, what a primary resource for the future.

As the elders die off we lose so much more than just their presence, we lose their knowledge, their skills and their connections with the memories of those they knew too.

I'm surprised that the resurgance in tradional handcrafts hasn't had her swamped with students.

Thank you for sharing

Kind regards, and my respects to your Mother in Law.
Toddy